Howard C. Wagner

South Bend Police Dept. — South Bend, IN

Felonious

End of Watch June 30, 1934

Age 29

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 48

The Vigil Panel 68 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Patrolman Howard Wagner was shot and killed while investigating a group of men standing in front of the Merchants National Bank in the downtown area. He was directing traffic on Wayne and Michigan Streets when he noticed the men entering the bank and heard gunfire. As he approached the bank, the man standing watch pulled out his machine gun and fired, killing Patrolman Wagner. Upon investigation, it was determined that the men were members of the Dillinger Gang. Patrolman Wagner had served with the South Bend Police Department for over four years. Survivors include his parents, two brothers, and four sisters. Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934. Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents. The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison. Click here to see all the officers killed by members of the Dillinger Gang

Survivors

Survivors include his parents, two brothers, and four sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-F2D6C255
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Wagner gave the South Bend Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Bend community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wagner.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department South Bend Police Dept.

Location South Bend, IN

Platform Identity sbpd.stjoseph.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 30, 1934

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 29

Badge Number 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Machine gun

Offender The Dillinger Gang

Patrolman Howard C. Wagner is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Bend Police Dept., 11 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.

South Bend Police Dept.

of 15 officers

73.3% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious